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Hardeeville Elementary kicks off school year with open house

Jessicah Peters/Hardeeville TodayHardeeville Elementary School's second-grade teacher, Julie Williams, talks to her future student's family about the upcoming school year.

Jessicah Peters/Hardeeville TodayTyler, McKenzie and Keegan Campbell are excited to start another year at Hardeeville Elementary.

Jessicah Peters/Hardeeville TodayNancy Gutierrez stands with her two children, Isaac and Gabriella, who will be entering kindergarten and pre-kindergarten at Hardeeville Elementary School.

Jessicah Peters/Hardeeville TodayHardeeville Elementary School welcomed students back to school during the open house on Wednesday.

Jessicah Peters/Hardeeville TodayJessica Keiffer will be sending her daughter, Savannah to pre-kindergarten.

Hardeeville Elementary School teachers welcomed students to the new school year during an open house Wednesday. Jennifer Rhodes is a new addition to the school who will teach third- through fifth-grade English as a second language classes.

“I’m really excited to get started and meet my new students,” Rhodes said. “I want to focus on the reading skills but also teach the students the importance of respect in the classroom. When students get along with each other, it makes for a better learning environment.”

Jennifer Melton, who teaches first and second grade, said she’s excited because the school will have more community involvement through the ESL classes. As a parent who is sending her first child to school, Jessica Keiffer said she looks forward to having her child, Savannah, have more interaction with children her age.

“She’s been at home with me all day and she’s really excited to be around other children,” Keiffer said. “I don’t know if I’m prepared to let go, but as long as she’s not crying when I drop her off Monday, then I won’t, hopefully.”

Nancy Gutierrez will also be dropping her daughter, Gabriella, off at pre-kindergarten.

“She’s a little shy, so I’m not sure what to expect on the first day,” Gutierrez said.

Older students are looking forward to improving their grades.

“I want to get better grades and maybe play a sport,” said Tyler Campbell, who will be entering fifth grade.

McKenzie Campbell said she wants to get all A’s and B’s.

Second-grade teacher Julie Williams is ready to take on the new math program called, everyday math.

“It’ll be interesting to jump into,” Williams said. “I look forward to my new group of students and getting to know the new principal.”

Wanda Bostick steps in as Hardeeville Elementary’s principal. Bostick was the assistant principal at Ridgeland Elementary School for three years.

Bostick will have about 650 students for the new school year. School starts on Monday for the Jasper County School District.